Kentucky Derby Prep Races: Santa Mónica Stakes

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Kentucky Derby Prep Races Odds and News

Santa Monica Stakes 2025: Kopion Faces Baffert Trio in High-Stakes Showdown

On Saturday, the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita Park brings together a competitive four-horse field featuring Grade 1 winner Kopion against three Bob Baffert-trained challengers. 

While the Kentucky Derby Prep Races dominate early-season racing discussions, this seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares provides an exciting betting opportunity. With Kentucky Derby betting gaining momentum, the Santa Monica serves as a key race to evaluate the form of top-tier female sprinters. 

Despite not being part of the Derby trail, the performance of horses like Kopion could influence Kentucky Derby odds indirectly by shaping future stakes races.

Kopion Returns After La Brea Triumph

Kopion made a statement on opening day at Santa Anita when she returned from an 8 ½-month layoff to win the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes dominantly. She pressed the pace before drawing off to win by 2 ¾ lengths, solidifying her status as one of the top female sprinters in California. The Richard Mandella trainee also won the Grade 3 Santa Ynez last January at Santa Anita over the same seven-furlong distance.

Owned by Spendthrift Farm, the daughter of Omaha Beach boasts a career record of 5: 3-1-0 with $314,600 in earnings. Antonio Fresu takes over the reins as she looks to prove that her La Brea victory was no fluke.

Baffert’s Trio Brings Depth to the Field

Bob Baffert, a dominant force in California racing, sends out three contenders to challenge Kopion. Richi, a Group 1 winner in Chile, has been impressive since arriving in the U.S. She captured the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes on January 4 by 1 ½ lengths after returning from a seven-month layoff. 

Before that, she finished second in the Desert Stormer Stakes in June. With an 11: 7-3-0 record and $178,424 in earnings, Richi will be ridden by Hector Berrios for the first time.

Splendora enters off a runner-up finish behind Kopion in the La Brea. She was a 25-1 longshot that day but ran a strong race to secure second. The 4-year-old filly by Audible had broken her maiden at Santa Anita in October and followed that with an allowance win at Del Mar in November. 

Owned by Talla Racing LLC, she has compiled a 4: 2-2-0 record with $138,400 in earnings. Hall of Fame jockey Frankie Dettori will ride her again, looking to turn the tables on Kopion.

Hope Road rounds out Baffert’s trio and will aim for redemption after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the La Brea. She entered that race as a 5-2 contender but faded late, finishing 5 ¼ lengths behind the winner. 

However, her prior form is strong, with victories in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes in November and Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes in August, both at Del Mar over a mile. The Quality Road filly, owned and bred by Cicero Farms, has earned $336,020 from eight starts. Juan Hernandez retains the mount.